Keeneland Numbers Continue to Fall

Two racing or stallion prospects from the Mill Ridge Sales consignment highlighted the penultimate session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, which continued in the same downward spiral of business that has been the trend throughout most the previous days of the auction.

Earth Planet, a 4-year-old Distant View colt who is a dual winner in France, fetched a top bid of $60,000. Out of the His Majesty mare Razyana, Earth Planet, who has earned $66,594 thus far on the racetrack, was bought by Oscar Lobo.

Kentucky-bred Earth Planet is a half-brother to European champion Danehill, plus other group winners Eagle Eyed, Shibboleth, and Harpia (all by Danzig); and Euphonic (by The Minstrel).

Previously racing as a Juddmonte Farms homebred, Earth Planet campaigned in France until he was sent to the United States in 2007. Unplaced in his North American debut last summer at Del Mar, Earth Planet holds a record of 2-2-2 from nine starts.

Major General, a 3-year-old colt by Empire Maker out of the stakes winning Warning mare Out of Reach, brought the second highest price of $55,000 from Hutton and Capin.

For the Nov. 16 session, a total of 189 horses sold for $1,244,600, down 13.1% from 2007 when 169 horses brought $1,432,300. The session average of $6,585 decreased 22.3% from last year’s figure of $8,475, while the median was down 50% from $6,000 to $3,000.

With one more day of selling to go, a total of 2,869 horses have grossed $184,888,400, down 45.7% from last year when 3,267 horses sold for $340,203,700. The average of $64,443 represents a 38.1% decrease from $104,133 in 2007. The median was down 37.1% from $35,000 in 2007 to $22,000 this year.

The final session of the 2008 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale begins at 10 a.m.